
^if 



A JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK 
TO SAN FRANCISCO, 1850 



^. 



REPRINTED FROM THE 






VOL. IX NO. 



OCTOBER, igoj 



[Kei)riiued from TiiK American IIishiricai. Kevikw, Vol. IX., No. i, Oct., 1903. ] 



J. A Journey from Ncxi.' York to San l^rancisco in iS^o. 

The following document i.s a portion of a diary of David Knapp 
Pangborn, which was kindly furnished to the Review by his grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Winthrop Girling of Chicago, Illinois, in who.se 
possession the original diary now is. The portions of the diary re- 
counting the experiences of the writer after his arrival in San Fran- 
cisco are not given here, inasmuch as they refer almost exclusively 
to personal matters without much historical interest. 

June J, 18^0. New York. 

Left our Dock at 3 p. m. |)recisely amid the cheers and greetings of 
thousands which crowded every possible standing place on the pier with 
one thick mass of human beings. 



I05 Documents 

June J. Af sea. 

For the first time since I left N. Y. I have attempted with success to 
eat a little and keep it down. . . . At 4 P. M. on Sunday had a Prayer 
meeting on the main Deck got up by 3 Call Missionaries (Baptists) going 
out. Two of them have wives on Board, one is single and a single Lady 
is also going as a Teacher. . . . My tea and sea biscuit begin to relish 
and the confinement of the Cabin to be irksome. 

June 7. 

Too Hot to sleep. Thermometer S5 in shade. Came up on deck. 
. . . We are now fairly in the Carribean Sea. Verry hot indeed scarce a 
breath of air and our overcrowded Ship is almost breathless. If we find 
it warm on the Istmas we shall at least have more room. 
Sunday, June g. 

Land. Coasted along the shore for several hours till we finally cast 
anchor of Chagres at 10 a. m. At 3 P. M. got safe to Shore in small 
row Boats. 

June JO. 

Hired a Canoe with 2 others beside \V"' and the Doctor and started 
at I P. ^L Began immediately to Rain and we put back. Our Boatman 
deserted and left us alone in the rain which was Rain Pouring for an 
hour and a half Got our Baggage all wet and at 8, we verry gladly 
crossed over by the vivid flashes of Lightning to the American side of 
the River and took shelter in a Hotel under the imposing name of the 
Irving House. Paid a $1.25 cash for Supper and Lodging. Supper 
Cider and Biscuit. Lodging a Cot and Blanket stowed in the unfur- 
nished chamber as thick as they could be stowed. Soon fell asleep not- 
withstanding the heat and rested. 

June II. 

8 A. M. Got a cup of coffee without milk at a Negros Stand which 
with a soda Biscuit made my Breakfast. With much ado got our Negro 
Boatmen and Baggage once more on Board and started. River rising 
— Banks low and swampy. Made 10 miles by hard labor and stoped 
for Dinner. Got more black rily Coffee and eat sea Bread. At 3 suc- 
ceeded in getting our Darkies once more into the Boat and started. 
Made 10 miles more and landed at 8 P. M. Verry dark. Found an 
" Amerecano " with a tent who for the consideration of 50 cts each suf- 
fered us to sleep on the ground under his Tent. Supper Coffee and 
Bread. 

June 12. 

Started early after getting some Coffee and worked up a few miles. 
Current getting verry strong and River rising. Stoped at 10 A. M. at a 
tent and for 2 hours another Rain Pouring. Never saw anything com- 
pare with it. After a delay of some hours a great deal of scolding and 
working succeeded in getting our Negros off by the promise of S5.00 
extra pay. Started at 3 P. M. and made a few miles. Stopped at 5 at a 



I 






A Journey from Nexu York to San Francisco io6 

Native Ranch. Got into a Hen House and opened our trunks. Found 
to our dismay that almost every thing we had was wet. Wrung out our 
wet things as well as we could and hung them up till Morning. Went 
to a neighboring House and bought a little Coffee. CJot some boiled 
Rice and made a Supper. Sjiread our Coats on some dry Hydes in the 
loft of the Hen House and slept well. 

June 14. 

More Coffee and Rice. Paid 4 Dimes each for the use of the Hen 
House and after an other long long spell of Coaxing succeeded at 1 1 
A. M. in getting off. River rose during the night 10 or 12 feet and 
before we started had fallen again for about 5 or 6 of it. Current verry 
strong and navigation verry difficult. Could make with all our exertion 
only about one mile an hour. At 4 P. M. reached San Pablo, a Ranche 
on the right Bank of the River on a high Bluff and looking more like 
life than any thing we had seen. The Ranche is owned by a Spaniard 
who is almost as great a proficient at speaking as " Los Americanos " 
themselves. Wanted to charge us 6 Dimes apiece for Sleeping on the 
mud floor of his Hovel. Left him and went back some :?o Rods and 
made a tent of our Blankets boiled some rice bought a little coffee at a 
dime a cup and camped down. All soon forgot in sleep the toils of the 
day but myself. I got up and with the long Knife of our Boat Man in 
hand kei)t gaurd over [?] our little camp . . . and after a few hours of 
reflection and meditation at about 12 I lay down on my Blanket and got 
an hour or two of untjuiet slumber. 

June ij. 

Got some more Coffee and sea Bread eat some cold rice and started. 
Toiled on till 3 P. M. with only a short rest at a Negro hut and reached 
"Gorgona." Got Supper at a "Hotel" with a large Name but slim 
accomodations and went down to the Boat. Opened all our trunks and 
Bags and spread every thing out in the hot Sun on the gravel Beach which 
was covered for nearly a Mile by Men all laboreing like us to get dry cloth- 
ing. Found some of our things rpiite spoiled and others nearly so by 
the moisture and Heat. In fact every thing you touch seems wet and once 
■vieX. nothing (irys but mould ensues immediately. By close application 
got our things in tolerable order and repacked by sun.set. Dare not trust 
our negroes with the Boat tonight. Some done so last night and found 
themselves deserted after paying as we had done fare all the way through 
and this morning at San Pablo paid <!io.oo each to get through, as much 
as we paid for the whole distance from Chagres to Cruces. Two of our 
])arty slept in the Boat, and two, the Doctor and myself at the " Rail 
Road Hotel " paying 75 cts for Supper and 50 for Lodging. 
June i6. 

All still well and at an early hour were under way. River almost 
impassable. Saw last night the Rapid Current of the River filled with 
Boxes and trunks of a capsi/ed P>oat which were mostly picked up in the 
Eddy opposite Gorgona. It proved to be the Goods of a German from 



I07 Documents 

Utica N. Y. The owner was drowned. After an hour or two we came 
up to the place where the unfortunate German lost his life. A verry 
rapid place and the Boatmen loosing control of the Boat it was dashed 
against a snag or sunken tree and capsized. Several other fellows are 
said to have been drowned dureing the last few days. We saw 2 or 3 
Floating Bodies in the River but did not learn who they were. Worked 
our way up till the last Mile. We were repeatedly obliged to get out on 
the gravelly bars of the River and walk past the rapid places while the 
Boatmen waded in the water and shoved the Boat and Baggage up. 
Arrived at Cruces at 2 P. M. all safe. Had another time drying our 
clothes and deposited them in a transportation office. 

Sabbath, June 16. 

Lounged out the day in a large tent belonging to an american. Went 
up to see the ruins of the old Church and made our arrangement for a 
start in the morning for Panama. 

June 18. 

Got a cup of coffee and started on foot. Found the Road not as muddy 
as we had been led to expect but all the descriptions of tourists had failed 
to give up the first faint idea of it as it is except the general one that it 
was difficult. It has once been a paved mule road cut through the 
Mountains at great expense but with the ancient Glory of Panama is in 
complete ruins. A small patch here and there just serves to show the 
fact of its previous existance. The old paving stones and other boulders 
lie in complete confusion over the whole surface of a large part of the 
Road, interspersed with occasional patches of deep mud. When it is 
stones the unlucky wayfarer must jump and when it is mud he must wade, 
for there is no dodging either, it being impossible to get out of the Road 
let what will be in it in the way of difficulty. A large part of the dis- 
tance is made up of cuts in the Road of various depths from a few feet up 
to twenty or more about 10 feet wide at the top and in many places 
not 2 wide at the Bottom and some not even so wide filled at the bottom 
with the aforesaid stones and mud interspersed with here and there a 
dead Mule by way of variety, now suppose it to be up and down 
at every possible grade and crooked at every possible radius of curvature, 
fill it well up with pack mules and naked Negro Muleteers each with a 
long knife in his belt and perhaps with a trunk weighing 100 lbs or more 
on his shoulders and cover the whole with an impenetrable mop of 
foliage in Tropical' Luxuriance and fill the air there with the constant 
screaming of parrots and you have the Cruces Road as we saw it. We 
leaped from stone to stone and waded in mud forded brawling brooks 
held our noses and crawled over dead mules most perseveringly from 
7 till 2 when we came in sight of the far famed " Half Way House " a 
miserable tent pitched on the bank of a Brook completely covered with 
the Mould which covers all cloth coverings here in the wet season. No 
seat to sit on. Cot Beds from 75 cts to 100 each. Meals 100 and no 
refreshment of any sort to be had in any other form or at any other 



A Journey from New York to San Francisco io8 

price. It was " Hobsons choice" that or nothing. 2 of my Comrades 
refused to be [illegible] and went on, myself and [illegible] thought 
best to submit and .stay washed the mud as well as we could from our 
Boots dried them, rested ourselves got some supper and in the morning 
went on. 

June ig. Panama. 

Arrived quite worn out at 12 M. having got a cup of coffee after a 
walk of 4 miles this morning. Whole distance from ("ruces 22 Miles, 11 
yesterday and 1 1 today. This end of the Road much the best, being 
dryer and more open the air had a better chance for circulation. Found 
the Doctor after an hour or two and took lodgings without the City 
Walls right on the Shore of the Bay in the third story of an old building 
said to be 100 years old. I never understood before why the upper- part 
of a House was the place of honor in old times in the East. I would not 
live below here on any account, but away up in our .\ttic we are cool 
and clean when they are suffering with heat and all sorts of offensive 
smells below. Have got us some Hammocks slimg for sleeping and get 
sometimes a meal at the Restaraunts and somelimes cook a little our- 
selves. Pay a Dime pr day for Room Rent and Lounge away our time 
as we can. The Northern is not yet heard from and don't know when 
she will be. 

Siiniiay, June 2J. 

.Saw Hager and Bennett and White ... all familiar faces. Hager 
and Bennett say the boat we should have taken is already gone. 

At II A. M. a sermon preached in the Tent of a Circus Company 
here from N. Y. by a traveling clergyman a verry small jiattern of a man 
but nevertheless the voice of prayer and Praise, instead of lUasphemy 
and impiety is refreshing . . . however poorly it may be done. Ciam- 
bling and swearing is the order of the day here on every hand. Recov- 
ering slowly from the fatigue of my Journey. 

June 24. 

White and one or two others left to d.iy i)aying $50. difference be- 
tween their Tickets and others after waiting here 8 weeks. Am no wise 
sorry they are gone. Society here can be made no worse by their ab- 
sence and may be made better. 

June 25. 

Steamer Oregon arrived from San Francisco Brought news of the 
Sarah Sands which has been due here for 6 or 8 weeks. She will not be 
here for 10 days or a fortnight yet. Some of her passengers have died. 
Many well have been sick, some have gone home discouraged and many 
more have procured other tickets and gone on. I think that 8 weeks in 
this climate will "decimate" a lot of passengers. 2 American funerals 
to day, one Man anil one woman a Mrs Hardy. She has left a Husband 
here and a young child. It would have been mercifull to his family had 
hi' thrown them into ihe sea at New \'ork instead of bringing them here 



1 09 Dociunents 

to die by inches in this climate and among strangers destitute as all must 
be whether sick or well of the commonest comforts of life. It is no 
place for women and children. If men please to come let them. 

June 26. 

British Steamer arrived from Valparaiso this morning, bringing no 
news of our boat. 

Jinie 2 J. 

Rose early this morning and went into the Mountains back of the 
City. . . . had some fine views of the country about and returned at 12 
M. by the way of the Burrying Ground. Saw the place where a good 
many disappointed Californians have taken up their last sleep, a wild 
neglected place outside the Catholic yard in the Bushes and trees. ... I 
looked at the desolate looking place and thought of the chances I stood 
of taking my place among these with now no very comfortable feeling. 
But the will of God be done. I left home not for my own good but for 
the benefit of those at home. This end may be subserved perhaps as 
well by my dying here as by going on. Every day however we hold a 
council and talk over every expedient of escape from here and invariably 
end right where we began. There seems no way of escape for us with- 
out more funds than we have to spare so we must resign our lives and 
wait, as patiently as possible. 

.-\lmost every night is a Fandango at a Negro Gambling House near 
by kept up no body knows how long. The dull monotony of the African 
Drum is onlv relieved at intervals of the dance by the drunken yells and 
screams of Darkies and Dinahs in the exuberance of their joy and at all 
times by night and by Day we have all sorts of noises of our own among 
ourselves. Card Playing, singing either Negro Melodies or Methodist 
Hymns as the case chances to be, and all mixed in complete confusion 
with the most foul and foolish Blasphemy from lips that might be ex- 
pected to use decent language. 

I am constantly seeing things here to remind one of Eastern scenery 
and eastern cities. Not only is the Palm Tree that significant symbol of 
eastern vegetation abundant, but much in the habits of the people and in 
the city itself is also like the East. The streets of Panama are narrow and 
all are paved. The Main Street is about 30 feet wide and remainder 
perhaps 20 feet. A narrow sidewalk is flagged on each side in a rude 
manner and the paving is made with a slight decent to the middle of the 
street. The Houses are all made with galleries in the second and third 
stories projecting over the sidewalk from 3 to 6 feet and the roof has 
the same projection so that the sun is nearly shut out from the streets. 
The most of the Buildings are of stone and verry old, some few are be- 
ing repaired, but a new House of any kind is not known. Many are 
falling to ruins. 

It is a very common thing to see Buildings gone completely to decay, 
Churches and private Houses unroofed and fallen in, some with all the 
side walls still standing, some with only one side up, and the rest all 



A Journey frotn Netv J 'ork to San Francisco i i o 

down. I think in its best days this city never had any a<iueducts or any 
decent water. It is now supplied by water brought some distance on 
the backs of Mules and costs about 5 cts per gall and is the poorest 
water I have seen even here on the Isthmus. The principle well would 
not be offered as a respectable watering place for animals at home. The 
roofs are all covered with 'I'iles and the Floors of stone Houses are made 
of the same material only differing in form, but the houses so far as I 
can learn are all infested with insects and reptiles, many of them vene- 
mous. Scorpions a large kind of spider looking thing with a tail about 2 
inches long is quite poisonous and a small Lizard shajjed animal said also 
to be poisonous is verry common. We see them every day crawling 
all over the walls and timbers above though they seem shy and run from 
us. The Bread of Panama is the most like Human food of any thing 
that is here, it is pretty good made of Chilian or Peruvian Flour and 
is only about double, or a little more than double the price in N. York. 
Beef miserable 10 cts per pound, pork not quite so bad 20 cts at. the 
market, Fish dear, for no reason that I can learn except they are too lazy 
to take them. Many of them are verry good. Sugar about double the 
price in the States and poor. This is the only ]>lace I ever saw where 
no attempts whatever are made at cultivation. I have not seen in the 
whole country any thing worthy of the name of Cultivation, every thing 
is brought from somewhere else even Bananas and the s|)ontaneous pro- 
ductions of the earth are brought here in boats from along the coast to- 
ward Peru and many if not all the few eadible vegetables used here come 
from Peru, Flour, Potatoes, Apples, etc. etc. Potatoes are 10 cts per 
pound and other things in proportion. A large portion of the meat 
used is salt ham brought I should think from the States and sells for 4 
dimes (50 cts) per pound. 

June 2g. 

This morning while getting our coffee ready heard that a man 
had been stabbed during the night near by. Proved to be a (iambler 
and sup])Osed to be killed by a Brother Black Leg for his money. He 
had been lucky for a number of days and was knewn to have several hun- 
dred Dollars. His money Belt was found by his side ripped open and 
Robbed. He was a white man but not an .-Vmerican. Only the day be- 
fore in a Gambling brawl had stabed and badly wounded another man. 
No notice is taken of the affair here by the Authorities if indeed there are 
any Authorities here, of which I see no indication except the presence of 
some forty or fifty Negro Soldiers barefoot and dirty and taken together 
the most incfiScient looking Ncgros I have seen here. A perfect carica- 
ture of the name of Soldier. Nobody minds any thing about them and 
nobody so far as I have been able to learn ever dreams of appealing to 
the city government for justice in any case whatever. 

Salibath, June 30. 

Attended I'rotestant service. Preaching by the same stranger that 
preached last Sabbath . . . to a large congregation. 



I I I Documents 

July 4- 

In Panama still and no prospect of relief. Great preparations are 
made up in the city for a celebration of the day. The Governor has 
offered the use of His House and has ordered it would seem an extra 
guard from somewhere for the occasion. A steamer is in the port under 
our window dressed in all the colors of the Rain Bow ready to carry those 
who have more Dimes and Patriotism than Brains to somewhere in the 
hot sun. I have to stay at home and save my breath to Hurra for the 
Northern should I be so happy as ever to see Her come. She is now 86 
days out. 

A chapter on Steamboats. 
4 July, 1850. 

I have learned what I can of the steamer business since I have been 
here and found it on the whole the most stupendous fraud of the age. 
Tickets are issued and sold by thousands in N. Y. and the Identical 
Money paid for them by the deluded Purchasers is Taken and Boats pur- 
chased with it and sent round the Horn while the robbed passengers have 
purchased instead of a " Through Ticket " a certificate of certain defen- 
tion here. Many got sick, some die and many are discouraged after weeks 
and months of delay and broken in fortune or constitution or both goes 
back discouraged entirely. I. Howard and Son and Roberts Lines have 
neither of them any certain means of forwarding from here one fifth part 
of the passengers they catch in their " Man Trap." 

Roberts and Co [?] have 2 Boats here but only one of them has yet 
made more than one trip up while they are sending on passengers for the 
3d trip that must stay here till Sept if not Oct. 

Howards Line have got no Boat running with any sort of regularity 
on this side. They have been selling through Tickets since last Feby 
and have only the Sarah Sands here which went up on her first Trip ! ! 
actually only Her first Trip, She left here the 9" of Apl for San Fran- 
cisco and has not yet returned and this is the only load of passengers 
Howard and Son have ever sent up. She was heard from a few davs ago 
near Monterey going u^. The Passengers had got tired of waiting for 
Her and landing walked u]) the Coast 150 miles and Sent Back a lighter 
load of Coal to the poor Boat to help Her up. In the mean time the 
passengers for Her second trip are here waiting for Her 8 or 9 weeks 
unless by great Sacrifices they have got on some other way. The pas- 
sengers for the New Orleans Have I think mostly got wearied out and dis- 
posed of their Tickets in some way and dispersed. The " West Point " is 
thought to be lost and the " Northern " which was to have been here 
without doubt in 70 days is now out 86 and not heard from. People get 
Here and have paid their money in New York unsuspectingly thinking 
they shall go on and find when they get Here that their further progress 
is " Indefinitely Postponed" or they are subjected to the tender mercy 
of a " Ticket Gambler " Instead of whom commend me to an Algerian 
slave dealer. 



A Journey from New J 'ork to San Francisco 1 1 2 

Many an unlucky wight has paid thcin more money as a bonus on 
a Ticket than the original cost of the Ticket in New York. They cry 
down [?] the owners of the non appearing Boats and buy up the Tickets 
of the wearied passengers and send them back home or up on Sailing 
Vessels and then when the Boat conies sell the Tickets at double and 
more than double prices and the very agents of the lines themselves are 
shamefully engaged in thus plucking their poor Emigrants. 
Saturday, July ij, l8jO. 

West Point arrived round the Horn yesterday and the Columbus this 
morning from California but no " Northern " yet for us. More [?] 
American funerals yesterday and no escape open for us. "Though He 
slay me yet will I trust in Him." It is my Father. Let Him do what 
Seemeth Him good. Prayer Meeting last night and Prayer precious to me. 
It is an affecting and pleasant sight to see Strong Men with nerve to do 
and suffer what we are doing suffering and engaged as all here must be 
and expect to continue to be engaged in a struggle not only with diffi- 
culties but in a contest stern and strong with the selfishness of men. To 
see such men in the childlike Simplicity of true Christian feeling melted 
to tears under the influence of the spoken [?] truth, Christian truth and 
prayer. But so it is and when we meet each other after those interviews 
it is with a more cordial feeling of recognition and a far kindlier shake 
of the hand. 

Thursday, July 18. 

The "Northern" arrived on Tuesday last. The "Republic" has 
also come from round the Horn and the Sarah Sands from California so 
that there are many happy faces in Panama and a great majority of the 
Emigrants will be gone from here in the course of the next ten days 
probably to be succeeded by fresh arrivals from home. There seems 
no end to the Hordes that are coming. I have not had an hour of 
ill health since I came on the Isthmus five weeks since. William has 
been ill for two weeks and the Doctor longer and seems to have lost all 
his self possession and energy. Hope to get away from here next Tuesday. 
Sunday, July 21. 

Still here in Panama and cannot foresee when we are to get ofT but 
hope to this week. Service this morning at 10 A. M. at the Home of 
the French Consul. The Americans here have petitioned the Governor 
for the use of one of the vacant churches for Protestant services. There 
are 15 or 16 churches and convent chapels in the City and not half of 
them ever used at all. Our la.st Friday night Prayer Meeting was broken 
up by the changes occuring here daily, some who had sustained it were 
gone while their places were filled by Men of another spirit and also by 
sickness in the Town. They must now be reckoned among our past op- 
portutunities [«V] for which we must account at the day of Judgment. 
Thursday, July 25. 

We expect to go on board tomorrow morning. We expect to he 
crowded badly and have poor accomodations. But we are glad to get 



1 1 3 Documents 

on at any rate for we are tired enough of Panama. Hope I have bought 
the last Picayune worth of rice of the old Negro woman at the corner 
and shall have to kindle but few more fires here to cook it and eat but 
few more meals here on the Top of my trunk. But I will not rejoice to 
much. I expect the fare on the Boat will make me regret even Panama. 

Friday, July 26. 

At 3 went on Board the Little Steamer Taboga for the Northern and 
ran down to the Island of Taboga. Reached there 10 miles and came 
on Board at 4^ P. M. Ship all in confusion. 

Satiiniay, July 2J. 

The balance of our Passengers came down from Panama to day at 3 
P. M. and at 6 we weighed our Anchor and stood out to sea. Ship crowded 
to excess between 400 and 500 Hundred Passengers and over 100 of the 
Crew making in all over 600 Souls on Board. In my cot tonight I re- 
viewed once more with gratefull heart the goodness of God to me while 
on the Isthmus for 7 weeks in an unhealthy climate surrounded by the 
sick and yet not one sick hour. 

Suihfay, July 28. 

Evening. Sea Slcl;. Oh ! Oh ! 
2Q Mondy. Do Do 

Tuesday, July jo. 

Not a breath of air and our crowded Ship is insufferably hot. 
Saturday, August j. 

Morning. Land again in sight on the Starbord Bow. At 11 A. M. 
altered our course and stood in for Land and coasted up looking for the 
entrance of the Bay of Accapulco but did not make it till 8 P. M. It 
was now dark and we knew that the officers of the Boat were none of 
them acquainted with the Place. We had therefore to make a strange 
Harbor in the dark without any Pilot. Great anxiety was felt and all 
hands were on Deck watching the course of the Ship as she stood into the 
entrance between Two Headlands that rendered by their deep Shadows 
the passage blind and dark enough. Even "Venus " was in a cloud as 
we went in, but went safely up however though verry nigh the Breakers 
once and quite out of the regular channel and at 9 P. M. Dropt our 
Anchor before the City and all hearts were lightened of a load. Just as 
we made the entrance of the Harbor at 8 P. M. one of our number died 
a Mr Smith from Western N. Y. and as we turned in at 10 or 11 we 
heard that the " Cholera " was on Shore and that the Small Pox was on 
Board — rather poor things to set one to sleep. 

Sunday, August 4. 

What little disposition I had to sleep was defeated for the most part 
last night by the incoherent ravings of a young man near me who had a 
fever. After Breakfast all went on shore to give the crew a chance to 
Cleanse the Ship. Carpenter made a rough coffin for the dead man and 
at 10 He was carried a shore and Buried by the American curate. 

AM. HIST. REV., VOL. IX. — 8, 



A Journey from Nezij York to San Francisco i 14 

Accapulco is a much cleaner and pleasanter Place than Panama. 
Went this morning about 3^ of a mile out of the City Back to bathe in a 
Beautiful stream of fresh water coming right down from the High 
Mountains in the rear. Walked in the groves and Gardens a while and 
returned to Town and got Dinner. 

Then went up on an elevated Plateau overlooking the Bay under a 
grove of Mango Trees to while away the time till night. The City is on 
our right a strong Mexican Fort is on the Point at our left and the Bay 
and Shipping right before us. The Northern being right in the Center 
of the Picture, covered with Her crew and all the " Hombres " that they 
can hire Taking in Coal and water, Cattle, Sheep and Pigs. At ^)', took 
a long ramble up past the City and all around the Beach till we came to 
where our further progress was Bared by the shutting [?] down of the 
Hills so near as to close the Road. The City Lies embosomed among 
Volcanic Mountains Wild and Rugged as possible. In the rear is a 
natural [?] plain of a Mile or so before you strike the Base of the 
Mountains in one direction but in another the Houses of the City extend 
for some distance up the sides of the Hill. The Houses are all one story 
High and even the Church is very low being evidently made for a Vol- 
canic Country. 

Monday, Aiii^ust ^. 

At Half past five heard the welcome sound of the parting Gun fired 
and we left our Anchorage with three cheers answered from the crowded 
decks of the Steamer Republic along side and from some other vessels 
and stood out of the Bay. Two more of our Sick had died while we 
were on shore on Sunday and were carried on shore privately and buried 
in the evening One the sick man who had disturbed us on Saturday night 
and the other a Ships Boy. Our Ship had been however well cleaned 
on Sunday and we hope the most of our sickness is over but we are 
in the Hands of God. In His hands our Breath is whose are all our 
ways. 

As we left our anchorage in the Bay of Accapulco a storm of thunder 
and Rain Burst on us from the high mountains back of the City and we 
put to sea in the midst of the severest storm of wind and rain we have 
seen for many days. But our Boat is a good one and we have confidence 
in the good Providence of God. I slept well and rose Tuesday morning 
at Sea and in good health. The coast of Me.\ico in sight Mountainous 
in the extreme. Course still "West North West." Heard that while 
lying in the Harbor it was Stated by the passengers of the " Republic " 
that one of their Passengers on the way down from Panama being 
out of His head with Fever came on Deck unobserved by any one 
and before the watch on Deck observed what he was doing leaped over- 
board just before the wheel and of course was seen no more. I did 
not learn who He was but the Ship held on her way. William has 
been sick again and took an emetic on Saturday morning. Is better 
again now. 



1 



1 1 5 Documents 

IVednesday, August 7. 

By the goodness of God still well myself. One of my acquaintances 
from Burlington, a Mr Pine [?J removed to the Hospital (on the after 
Deck near my Berth} sick with Small Pox. 

Thursday, August 8. 

Heard from young Pine. His case proves confluent Small Pox. 
But inasmuch as a sail cloth curtain seperates the Hospital from the cots 
of the Passengers we hope it will not spread so as to get us into quaran- 
tine at San Francisco. 

Saturday, August 10. 

Had our quarters moved to day into a less favorable spot. Caught a 
severe cold in my new quarters last Night and a Fray occured between a 
Mr Dearborn and the first Mate about the Berths. 

August 12. 

Cold severe. Put on all the clothing I ever put on in winter and yet 
uncomfortable. My cold no better. 

August I J. 

Daylight off the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco. 

4 P. M. Droped our anchor at 8 A. M. Health officer came on 
Board and we had but one sick man on our list. The rest had all re- 
covered or nearly so. We were permitted to land and after a long tire- 
some and dinnerless day of scrambling pulling and hauling succeeded in 
getting all safe on shore and am at the Hotel [?] waiting for supper with 
a good appetite. 



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